Adeptness in abstractions and analysis--the language of math--is at least as important as adeptness at reading words for individuals in business and industry. Mathematics literacy stimulates the problem-solving and critical thinking skills that the workplace now demands. A National Assessment of Educational Progress study found that about half of high school graduates do not have junior-high level math skills. Patterns indicate that males and high-achieving students are the only groups whose use of computers is increasing. Instructional changes to improve math achievement include (1) making computers and calculators available to all students; (2) reflecting real-world math applications in problems and projects; and (3) integrating probability, statistics, and discrete math into the curriculum for all students. Other recommendations are changes in textbook content and student evaluation, business involvement in advocating math programs, and greater equity, that is, higher expectations in math performance for all students. (The document includes three graphs and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of eight sources of information.) (CML)

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